1. A New Phase of Agricultural Restructuring in An Giang
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Through its agricultural restructuring program, An Giang Province has taken bold steps to maximize its natural potential, diversify its products, and increase value-added output. These efforts have laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
As one of Vietnam’s top rice-producing regions, An Giang not only expanded its cultivation area and improved yields but also focused on enhancing grain quality, building rice brands, and establishing production linkages, reaffirming the strength of An Giang rice on the global market.
2. Vietnamese Farmers Growing Japanese Rice
On the fields of Hoi An Commune, farmer Nguyen Thanh Dong no longer sows dense seeds as before. Instead, he uses precision seeders, measures fertilizer by the kilogram, and carefully manages irrigation schedules.
These changes weren’t easy for a traditional farmer, but Dong embraced them as part of cultivating Japanese Hana rice for export to Japan.
Through participation in the TRVC Project (Transformation of the Rice Value Chain in Response to Climate Change), implemented by Angimex Kitoku Co., Ltd., he followed the “3 Reductions” principle:
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40% reduction in seed use,
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34% reduction in fertilizer,
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13% reduction in water usage.
Despite the cuts, Dong’s rice yields remained high at 6 tons/ha, generating profits of VND 30–35 million/ha while saving VND 5 million/ha in costs. His contract guaranteed a stable buying price of VND 9,600–9,800/kg, with an additional bonus for meeting low-emission targets.
“Before, farmers only chased yields, not thinking about emissions or export standards. Growing Japanese rice means doing things cleaner and smarter,” Dong said. “Last season, I even earned a bonus of over one million dong for reducing carbon emissions.”
In just the first season, 49 households over 361 hectares in An Giang reduced 1,747 tons of CO₂ emissions. This demonstrates how changing farming habits can both protect livelihoods and meet international sustainability standards — helping Vietnamese rice access demanding markets like Japan.
3. From Fragmented Farms to Linked Cooperatives
An Giang has more than 1.3 million hectares of rice land, producing 8.8 million tons per year, nearly one-fifth of Vietnam’s total output.
Over 80% of farmland now participates in production–consumption linkages involving companies like Loc Troi Group, Tan Long, and Trung An.
High-quality rice varieties now account for 83% of the province’s total output, up 12.66% compared with 2021–2025 levels.
Farmers now grow premium varieties like ST24, ST25, Jasmine, and OM5451 certified under VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.
Fragrant rice from the Long Xuyen Quadrangle region is now exported to Europe, the United States, and Japan — a testament to quality and consistency.
4. Cooperatives – The Core of the Rice Value Chain
An Giang currently has 690 agricultural cooperatives with a total charter capital exceeding VND 660 trillion and over 43,000 members.
Among them, Bau Tram Agricultural Cooperative in Tay Yen Commune stands out as a model of success.
Established on once-barren land, Ngô Chí Quang, a 79-year-old farmer, witnessed the area’s transformation. After decades of dependence on rice, the 2016 saltwater intrusion crisis led locals to adopt the rice–shrimp rotation model, in line with the province’s restructuring strategy.
Today, thanks to investments in electric pumping stations, saltwater barriers, and organic rice cultivation techniques, the cooperative signed long-term contracts with Minh Sang Co., Ltd. to supply 300 hectares of ST24 and ST25 rice at prices VND 500–1,000/kg higher than market rates.
As a result, no households remain poor, and Tay Yen rice has become a recognized brand in the region. Farmers have shifted from small-scale production to large-scale, export-linked cultivation, ensuring income stability and global competitiveness.
5. Building a National Rice Brand
Beyond production, An Giang has attracted major investments in rice milling, drying, storage, and logistics infrastructure directly within its raw-material zones.
Notably, Loc Troi Group established a closed rice value chain — from seed research to processing and export — enabling An Giang rice to earn international certifications and enter EU markets under the EVFTA Agreement.
Average profits from rice farming in An Giang now range between VND 20–25 million/ha per crop, higher than before restructuring. Large-scale rice fields are no longer a slogan but a reality.
According to Le Huu Toan, Director of An Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Environment:
“The province has shifted decisively from mass rice production to high-quality, fragrant, and specialty rice varieties. This is the key to increasing rice value and strengthening the An Giang brand within the global value chain.”
6. Towards a Global High-Quality Rice Hub
From the lush paddies of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle to export-ready rice bags in U Minh Thuong, An Giang’s agricultural transformation is reshaping not only farming methods but also farmers’ mindsets.
Rice — once a symbol of survival — now represents innovation, sustainability, and prosperity.
With its vision to become Vietnam’s center for high-quality rice, An Giang continues to write a new chapter for the Mekong Delta’s “Rice Bowl”, turning each grain into a symbol of national pride and global excellence.